How to say it
DAN · yul
ˈdæn.jəl
Masculine
Daniel
God is my judge
What it means
From the Hebrew Daniyyel. The roots are dan (judge) and el (God).
Biblical Daniel survived the lions' den and interpreted dreams for foreign kings while keeping his faith intact. The name moved through Jewish, Christian, and Puritan naming traditions across centuries without losing its weight. The Spanish Daniel (pronounced dahn-YEL) is a top-five boys' name across Latin America, and the English Dan and Danny serve as the daily-life forms in both Anglo and Latino US communities. Daniel has held the US top thirty for boys consistently for decades.
How to spell Daniel
The standard spelling is Daniel. Common variants include Daniyyel, Daniele, Dan, Danny, but Daniel is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #5 in 1985, currently #22 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Dan and Danny are both common; the family tends to settle on one by school age.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Daniel (Bible) Prophet thrown into the lion's den and unharmed
- Daniel Day-Lewis Three-time Best Actor Oscar winner
- Daniel Craig Sixth James Bond, 2006-2021
Spelling variants
- Daniyyel
- Daniele
- Dan
- Danny
Names with the same feeling
See Daniel from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Daniel mean?
- From the Hebrew Daniyyel. The roots are dan (judge) and el (God).
- What does Daniel mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Daniel means "God is my judge." Biblical Daniel survived the lions' den and interpreted dreams for foreign kings while keeping his faith intact. The name moved through Jewish, Christian, and Puritan naming traditions across centuries without losing its weight. The Spanish Daniel (pronounced dahn-YEL) is a top-five boys' name across Latin America, and the English Dan and Danny serve as the daily-life forms in both Anglo and Latino US communities. Daniel has held the US top thirty for boys consistently for decades.
- How do you pronounce Daniel?
- Daniel is pronounced ˈdæn.jəl. Say it as DAN-yul, with the stress on the "dan" syllable.
- How do you spell Daniel?
- The standard spelling is Daniel. Common spelling variants include Daniyyel, Daniele, Dan, Danny.
- Is Daniel a boy or girl name?
- Daniel is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Daniel?
- Daniel ranked #22 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.